Unique wildlife experiences up for grabs with major RSPB appeal

Emily Kench

Friday 4 August 2017

Media invite: There will be filming opportunities at RSPB Snettisham on the next high tides; 9,10,11,12 August. Times will vary. These also include a specific Wader Spectacle event taking place from 08.00 on Saturday 12 August.

Fancy the opportunity to become a ‘warden for the day’ or perhaps want to try your hand at an exclusive wildlife photography masterclass? Then the RSPB in the East has just the thing!

In exchange for a donation to their current Crowdfunding appeal, the conservation charity has pulled out all the stops to offer some exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Ranging from going on a celebrity Wild Goose Chase with BBC broadcaster and naturalist, Mike Dilger, taking on the running of a nature reserve and becoming a warden for the day, and even finessing your photography skills on a wildlife photography masterclass with celebrated wildlife photographer Chris Gommersall, there’s something for everyone.

But, you need to be quick, because the appeal is only live for another 9 days! So far over 300 people have donated to the campaign, and the total raised is over £11,700.00.

Site Manager Jim Scott said: “These rewards are a really unique way of getting to experience the wildlife up here on The Wash and in North Norfolk. They are ‘money can’t buy’ experiences and it’s all for an incredible cause.”

The devastating tidal surge in December 2013 left a trail of destruction along the Norfolk coastline and at many coastal nature reserves. The surge completely wiped out two of the hides at Snettisham, there was extensive damage done to the sea banks and lagoons and most of the footpaths were totally washed away.

The Snettisham hide crowdfunding appeal was launched on 10 July to raise funds to replace two wildlife hides at Snettisham nature reserve destroyed by coastal storms in 2013 with one, more substantial hide. It been designed to be more resilient to floods while providing people with fantastic views of the main attraction – Snettisham’s wildlife – and will be a building for everyone, improving the experience for all visitors including birdwatchers, photographers, walkers and wildlife lovers.

Jim Scott: “Every year thousands of people from around the country travel to Snettisham to witness the aerial displays of the tens of thousands of birds attracted to The Wash by the abundance of food in the mud. Since 2013 though, they have had to do so without the two hides lost during the storm surge. Donating to this appeal will make a huge difference to our visitors, making it even better and inspiring more people, especially the younger generation, with the amazing wildlife of this special place.”

RSPB Snettisham nature reserve lies on the edge of the expansive tidal mudflats of The Wash – the UK’s largest estuarine habitat and its most important site for wading birds and wildfowl.

Crowdfunding allows members of the public to donate money for a specific purpose in exchange for rewards, many of which are exclusive and certainly ‘money can’t buy’ experiences. The RSPB has managed to secure some truly wonderful rewards that should inspire people to donate to this important appeal.